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Today’s CSExtra offers the latest reporting and commentary on space related activities from across the globe. NASA’s Space Launch System super rocket the focus of multi-state effort. NASA predicts big crowds first unpiloted test flight of NASA’s Orion capsule, now targeted for Dec. 4. Orion, designed to join NASA’s SLS for human deep space missions is not envisioned for International Space Station transport, says NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Quest for evidence of extraterrestrial life a matter of will? Cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev prep for Thursday spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Early evidence points to artery damage from spaceflight. Europeans turn spaceflight software into bank fraud deterrent. Contractor pays tribute to NASA’s shuttle program history. Florida senator seeks change in 2015 NASA budget language that might weaken commercial crew competition. United Launch Alliance mounts campaign for domestic version of Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Crippled Proton could be back in service by September, say Russians. Russia preps new Angara rocket series for inaugural launch in late June.
Human Deep Space Exploration
NASA makes progress on world’s largest rocket
Associate Press via Yahoo.com (6/19): The world’s largest rocket, NASA’s Space Launch System, makes strides on road to 2017 flight test. The SLS will start U.S. explorers on future missions of deep space exploration.
NASA’s Charles Bolden expects big crowds for Orion test flight
News 13, of Florida, (6/18): As NASA points to Dec. 4 for the lift off of the new Orion deep space capsule on an unpiloted test flight, the agency’s administrator, Charles Bolden, predicts big crowds will be there to watch.
Orion no backup for Commercial Crew, says Bolden
Space News (6/18): NASA does not intend to use the deep space capable Orion capsule as a means of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, Administrator Charles Bolden assures a Kennedy Space Center briefing. The U.S. should leave low Earth orbit to the commercial sector, says Bolden, who would like to see two companies take on the space station transportation role under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Unmanned Deep Space Exploration
Opinion: We could find life on another planet. Do we have the will?
National Geographic (6/18): The topic of alien life makes the cover of National Geographic along with a prediction that the Jovian moon Europa may hold the answer to whether it exists.
Low Earth Orbit
Russian cosmonauts taking spacewalk Thursday morning
Space.com (6/18): Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev prepare to depart the International Space Station’s Russian airlock at 9:50 a.m., EDT, for six to seven hours of external maintenance tasks. The spacewalk is the first for each cosmonaut.
Astronauts may suffer artery damage on long missions
Space.com (6/18): Early results from a new study suggest that the arteries of astronauts stiffen in weightlessness.
How spaceflight software helps fight bank fraud
Space.com (6/18): Spacecraft software controls have been adapted to fight bank fraud. Aerospace engineers with the European Space Agency forge the transition.
Shuttle contractor’s ‘soft mark’ on history: Pin display honors space shuttle team
Collectspace.com (6/18): United Space Alliance pays tribute to NASA’s space shuttle team with new display at Space Center Houston, the Visitors Center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Display features a pin for each of the shuttle’s 135 missions.
Commercial to Low Earth Orbit
Nelson wants to revisit Senate Appropriations Committee’s stricter Commercial Crew oversight
Space News (6/18): U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, of Florida, urges a change in the Senate’s version of NASA’s 2015 budget bill. The change would lift new requirements for financial information from the agency’s Commercial Crew Program contractors.
ULA details engine initiative, ratchets up SpaceX response
Spaceflightnow.com and CBS (6/18): United Launch Alliance mounts a counter offensive against rival SpaceX, unveiling plans to develop a domestic alternative to Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine. Russia recently threatened to halt the export of the RD-180, which powers the first stage of ULA’s Atlas V rocket.
ULA chief accuses Elon Musk’s SpaceX of trying to ‘cut corners’
Washington Post (6/18): United Launch Alliance defends record on U. S. national security mission launches, questions rival SpaceX’s approach to reducing costs. Recent SpaceX law suit challenged U. S. Air Force contract award to ULA for national security launches.
Russian industry official says proton should return to flight in September
Space News (6/18): A global commercial launch powerhouse, Russia’s Progress sustained its most recent launch accident in mid-May.
First test launch of Russia’s Angara rocket may be conducted on June 27
Voice of Russia (6/19): The Angara series represents a new family of Russian medium to heavy lift rockets that are lighter weight and feature the use of nontoxic fuels.
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